It's more dismal news for BlackBerry-maker RIM, with its upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system pushed back once more.
CEO Thorsten Heins said the launch of the first BlackBerry 10 devices is now anticipated to "occur in the first quarter of calendar 2013", the BBC reports.
Unfortunately for RIM, it gets worse. The company, which has struggled to compete with Apple and Android smart phones, has lost $518m (about £332m) in the last three months up to 2 June, and has said it will be cutting 5,000 jobs.
The BlackBerry 10 delay means any new phones will be launching in the wake of both iOS 6 and Android Jelly Bean, as well as Microsoft's Windows Phone 8. With poor results, and little to look forward to, reports suggest RIM's board members are now under pressure to dismantle the company.
Citing three sources 'familiar with the situation', Reuters says RIM is being forced to consider last-resort options, including breaking off and selling its networking business, or joining forces with Microsoft.
The report reckons Steve Ballmer has approached RIM about a partnership, which would see the company producing Windows Phone 8 devices, in the same way Microsoft currently does with Nokia.
That scenario could see Microsoft buying up a stake in RIM to help out financially, but those anonymous sources say RIM's board members would rather forge ahead with BlackBerry 10.
Earlier this week, other reports tipped RIM to break its business into two separate companies, one handling handsets and the other taking charge of the company's messaging network, which could make a tasty acquisition for Google or Apple.
RIM's patent portfolio could be another of its desirable assets should the worst come to the worst.
Is there any hope for RIM? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 4
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flyingacedude 29 June, 2012 13:33
The only future for it as far as I can see is if Microsoft buys it for patents/to bolster its position as a business brand.
tomfromaardvark 29 June, 2012 16:23
Time to say Bye Bye to Blackberry methinks! it was never going to last up against the likes of IOS and Android anyway, more like just a popular trend for a year or two. No one will really miss them as its their older models that were their best anyway!
Matthew Russell 29 June, 2012 22:28
No reason for the overly bad news, yeah its not good that bb 10 is delayed again but rim are still making a profit, they made 700 million last quater which is pretty good for a company that everyone sees as dead
flyingacedude 2 July, 2012 13:43
...but terrible for a company operating in a market which is rapidly expanding. They don't have to gain market share to increase sales, just maintain it. Which they're unable to do.